Wall mounting



` Nov. 2l, 1944. c. D. LowRY WALL MOUNTING Filed Feb. 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Snventor GLYDE D. ou/kv Nov. 2l, 1944. c. D. LowRY 2,363,429 l WALL MOUNTING Filed Feb. 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snventor La/0E D. Lowry WWW/74%?? o p 7 w 7 n, 4 g W ,/w W

n Pk'atentecl` Nov. 21, 1944 f l '-UNITEDSTATES PATENToprlfiff a corporation of Ohio Application February 12, 1940, Serial No. 318,436 7 The present invention relates 'to wall constructions in 'general -and more particularly to the facing of walls with panels or slabsypreferably of structural glass, although the invention is not restricted tothe useofj panels or'slabs of any particular material.

Panels ofwopaque structural glass are now being Widely used for the exteriory facing of buildings and store fronts as well as von walls in interior c'onstrilotion.` These glasspanels are usually of various-.colorsto form an ornamental and please ing effect. The method of installation commonly practiced consists in simply securing the panels WALL MOUNTING' Clyde D. Lowry, Toledo, Ohio, assgnor to Lib-v bey-Owens-,Ford Glass Company,

Toledo, Ohio,`

Y the glass slabs'or panels may be easily andfquickly to the supporting wall'by means of an asphaltick s f mastic cement or .other suitable'cementitiousmaterial. vThisvmethodof attachment has not, how#l ever', proven entirely satisfactory in allin'stances,`

due to the fact that `the glass panels have become separated fromV thev surface to which they are.

cemented. Thismaybecaused by some proce# dure of construction or installation.' beingirnlproperly carried out or due tothe dilerence in' the coeflicient of expansion and contraction of the panels` and the surface to which Athey are secured. The provisionfofv metalstructures for mounting glass panelsis also known, but in many cases the use of such metal structures requires the beveling or grooving of; the edges of the panels or the drillingof holes in the glassto permit the attachment thereof tot the metalstructure. This special preparationofthe glass panels not only renders the mounting of them more,V costly but, in addition, usually requires more time and also tedious work in thesecuring ofthe panels yin place.rv n The primary, object of this invention is the provision of an improved metal structure for mounting glass slabs orpanels or similar -surface. covering elements to the exteriorl and. interior walls of building constructions.,

. Another object of the invention isvthe provisionv of animproved metal structurefor securingthe glass slabs or .panelsin placewithout the necessity of groovingf, Abeveling, or otherwise preparing `the edges thereof and alsowithoutthe necessity `of drilling holes in. the glass'forthe reception of fastening means. y l .y

A further object ofthe invention is the pro- Avision of an improved metal structure'ior.mountr-r Y ing the glassslabs or panels in vsuch aymanner that they areyieldably yet securely held inplace and at .the same time permitted to expand and contract independentlyof thesurface to which they are attached.

A' still further object of the invention is thev proattached and detachedso that la'broken slabor panel may be readily and conveniently replaced and also whereby `thevcolor of the slabs or panels as we lly asy thepdesign` thereof [may be; changed whenever desired.v Y, Y j f v'.

' O ther objects and advantages of -the invention will become morev apparent during thev course of the following` description, when talgen in` conf nection with the accompanying. drawings.v

l ,In the drawings, 7whereinwlike numerals .are

employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same: n. c n, F ig.1` isa front View .Ofwa portionA of a wall faced ywith ,slabsr orgpanelsJmounted in' accord,- ancelwith thepresentinvention; Q .4 Fig. 2 isa vertical perspective Lsectionalview through the metal .mounting taken substantially online 2,--2 ofFig.1;f 4. l -f Fig. is =an 'enlarged detail-section A01E-.a portion ofthe `metal mounting; Fig. 4.- is a vertical transversesection showing avmodied type ofrmetalmounting'; l y

Fig. 5 is a horizontaly section taken substan-y tially online 51-5 ofFig.-4;fand' Y' Fig. `6 is an enlarged detail section tion of the metal mounting. v

. With referencfy particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the numeral I0 `vdesignates asupporting wall Which-maybe theUeXterior orginterior wallof a of .ya

- building and to which it is desired to secure the facing slabs or panels II. .The Vslabs or panels II" are arrangedgina plurality of horizontal andvertical rows andareattached tofthefwall `Ill by -means of a plurality of longitudinally extending metal purlins I2. i One ,of `these metal purl-ins is arranged between adjacenthorizontal rowsof panels `and is .adapted-to engage 'the upper rand lower marginaledge portionsv of.V the said panels. Although the'slabs or panels vlI i-Will be herein referred' to as being of `structural glass, 'it- Will be understood that theyy maybe-ofr anyl other desired material; l r

Each purlin I2 comprises awix'ed supporting member I3 inthe formvofa longitudinally ex-V tending channel rail comprising spaced .upper and lowerv horizontalfportions. I4 and I5 respectively connected at theirouter, .ends byan in,-

tegral verticalweb portion-I6. The upper horizontal portionk I4 Aofthechannel rail is provided l at its rear endfwith a vertically directedattach-v ing Aflange I1 adapted ltobe secured `to the y-wall- I0 by suitable fastening means such as screws or 5 the like I 8.. Also formed integral with the upan outer portion 24 adapted to engage the rear faces of the slabs or panels II which are disposed above the channel rail I3.

The lower horizontal portion I5 of channel rail I3 is provided at its rear end with a downturned longitudinally extending ange formed at its 4lower end with a forwardly and upwardly directed rib 26.

Formed integral with the lower horizontalportion ,I5 of the channel rail ris a lon-` gitudinally extending lvdepending rib 21 cooperating with rib .26 .to form therebetween :an undercut .channel 28 for .receiving the ,cushioning strip 29. The cushioning `strip 2.9 is similar to cush-` ioning strip 22 and .is ,adapted to engage the rear faces of the slabs or panels I'I disposed beneath the channel rail I3. In other words, the cushioning strips 22 engage the panels of one course adjacent their lower ends, while the Acushioning strips 29 engage the panels ofy the next lower course adjacent their upper ends..

vCarried by the channel raill3 is a forwardly directed T-member comprising a horizontal stem 30 integral with the .web I6 of the channel rail intermediate the upper` and `lower .ends thereof and provided at its outer end with a substantially vertical face member 3l, the outersurface of which may have .any desired cross sectional contour. Formed integral with thechannel rail I3 are the forwardly directed longitudinally extend ing shoulders 32and 33 which cooperatewith .the stem 30 of the T-member to form longitudinally extending grooves34 and 35. v

Associated with the channel rail I3 and T- member carried thereby are wing. members 3,6 andY 31 which are adapted to engage the outer faces of the slabs or'panels II to hold them securely in place. Each ywing member comprises a face portion '38 provided at its outer end with a bead 39 engaging the front faces oi'4 the respective slabs or panels. The faceportion 38 is provided at its inner end'with a rearwardly offset attaching portion -40 resulting ina yshoulder 4I adapted to engage the longitudinal edge of the face member 3 I of the T-mernber and which edge constitutes a fulcrum upon which the wing member is adapted vto rock or pivot. The rearwardly offset-attaching portion lIl!! is received behind the. vertical face piecev 'SIV and is formed at its free end with a laterally directed toe 42 received within the respective groove 34 or 35. When the wing member is caused to pivot or Afulcrum outwardly upon the face piece 3|, the toe v42 is swung in'- wa-rdly to engage the respective shoulder 32 or- 33 asindicated at 43 (Fig. 3).

`When `installing the slabs or panels II, the

- wing members 36y and 31`are first removed. The

panels ofone row are then supported on edge upon the channel rail I3, with their rear'faces in engagement with cushioning strip 22. The op-A erator .then forces the panels rearwardly to compress the strip 22 and `while held in thisvposition the wing member 3.6 is slipped into place, with the shoulder 4I thereof engaging .the upper edge of the face member 3| and the toe 42 received within groove 34. The panels are then released rand the resiliency of the cushioning strip 22 will force them forwardly thereby causing the wing member 36 to fulcrum or rock upon the face member 3l until the toe 42 engages the shoulder 32 as indicated at 43 in Fig. 3. When this is done, the panels will be securely, yet yieldably, held in place so that they are free to expand or contract independently of the supporting metal rstructure as well as independently of the wall I0.

The row of panels beneath the channel rail are then installed in the same manner and yieldably clamped between the cushioning strip 29 and wing member 31. When it is desired to replace `a broken panel or change the color or design of the panels, it is simply necessary to force the panelsrearwardly to compress the cushioning strip 22 or 29 sufiiciently to permit the removal of the desired wing member. The row of panels above the `channel `rail I3 is supported thereupon and preferably rests upon a strip 440i suitable cushioning material suchas felt, cork, or `the like. The vertical spaces between horizontally adjacent blocks may `be filled with a vsuitable pointing or caulking material as indicated at 45 (Fig. 1). v

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 is illustrated .another type of metalmounting also embodying the principles of the ,present invention. As herein shown, the rearsupporting Wallis also designated by the numeral Ill, the facing vslabs or panels by the numeral I I, and the Vlongitudinally y extending purlins by the numeral I2. In this form of the invention, however, the purlins I2 are of a somewhat different construction. Each purlin comprises a xed member 46 comprising a longitudinally extending channel rail including the upper and lower horizontal portions 41 and 48 connected at their outer ends by the integral vertical web 49. Formed integral with the upper horizontal portion $41 of channel Vrail 46 is an upstanding flange 5D, over the upper edge of which is iitted a cushioning strip 5I of rubber, rubber composition, or the like, engaging the rear faces of the respective row of slabs or panels. Formed integralwith the lower horizontal portion 48 of the channel rail is a depending flange 52 also carrying a cushioning strip 53 engaging the rear faces of the next lower` vrow of slabs or panels. The lower horizontal portion 48 ,of the channel rail extends rearwardly beyond the flange 52 as indicated at 54 and is adapted .to engage .the wall IU to lpro-perly space the channel rail therefrom.

Formedintegral with the upper horizontal portion 41 of the channel rail isa depending rib 55 having associated therewith a plurality of hangers 5B. Each hanger 56 comprises a vertical attaching portion 51 secured to the back wall I0 web portion 49 to provide a channel 63. Passing loosely through openings in the web portion 49 are a plurality of horizontal bolts 64 provided at their forward ends with heads 65 received within a longitudinally extending channel 6B `formed in the back of the face memberv 6,1,which may have any desired prole. vThefaoe member Slis normally drawni inwardly by means of a plurality of leaf-springs 68 of 'bow'formation, onebeing slidably received upon eachof the bolts 64 rand held thereon by a nut 69.

, Associated with theface member siy are the ber, 61 and with a rearwardly offset attaching 'Y vportion 15 terminating in a toe 'lvwhich is received within thefchannel 63 land adapted to engage the respective shoulder 6| or k62 as indicated at 11 (Fig. 6).

. In the operation of this ,type of mounting, the

leaf-springs68 are normally arcuately bowed as shown in full lines inA Fig. 5 so that they tend to' draw the face member 61 inwardly toy hold the outer ends of. the wing members 10 and 'H in yieldable engagement with the front faces of the slabs or panels and therear .facesof the slabs or panels .against the cushioning strips 5I and 53. Howevenwhen itis desired to remove any one of the panels, the operator, by means of a suitable `tool, `forces the face vmember k6'! forwardly, whereupon the springs 68 will be lcaused to flatten out'as indicated by the brokenlines. While the face member ('Iisv held linforward position, the wing members can beremoved to permit removalof the desired panel or panels. In this type of mounting the row of slabs or panels above f each .purlin l2 is supported upon the channel rail l46 and a cushioning strip 18 may be provided between the glass and metal to minimize breakage of the former.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be vtaken as the preferred` embodiment of the same,

and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

f I claim: t

1. The combination with a supporting wall and facing panels therefor arranged in a plurality f of rows, of longitudinally extending horizontal metal purlins for attaching said panels to said wall, each comprising a fixed member secured to said .wall and extending longitudinally between two vertically adjacent rows of panels and supporting the upper row of panels thereupon, means carried by said fixed member and engaging the rear faces of the panels in the adjacent rows, a longitudinallyextending face member carried by said fixed member and disposedrforwardly of said panels, and wing members arranged at opposite sides of said face member-,and engaging the front faces of the panels in said adjacent rows, said wing members having attaching portions received behind saidface member and engaging the said fixed member and otherl portions engaging the said face member for rocking movement thereon.

2. The combination with a supporting wall and facing panels therefor arranged in a plurality of rows,` of rlongitudinally extending horizontal f metal purlins for attaching said panels to said porting the upper row of panels thereupon, cushioning means carried by'said4 fixed member and.

yieldably engagingtherear faces of the panels in the adjacent rows, a longitudinally extending face `member carried by said fixed member and disposed forwardly of saidpanels, and wing members carried by saidface member and engaging the front faces of the panels in said adjacent rows,v said wing'members having f attaching portions disposedbehind the said face member and engaging the said fixed member and other portions engaging the said facemember for rocking movement thereon. l

3. The combination with a supporting wall and facing vpanels therefor arranged-in a plurality of rows, of longitudinally extending horizontal metal purlins for attaching said panels to said wall, each comprising a, fixed member secured to said wall and extending longitudinally between two vertically adjacent rows of panels and supporting the upper row of panels thereupon, means carried by said fixedy member and engaging the rear faces of the panelsin the adjacent rows, a longitudinally extending face member carried by said fixed member and disposed forwardly of the-panels in said adjacent' rows, said fixedl member having forwardly projecting longitudinally extending shoulders andsaid wing members having attaching portions disposed behind said face member and provided with toes engaging the shoulders on said fixed member upon rocking of the said wing members on the said facemember; l 4,. The combination witha supporting wall and facing panels therefor arranged in a plurality of rows, of longitudinally vextending horizontal metal purlins for attaching said panels to said wall, each comprisinga fixed member secured to said wall and extending longitudinally vbetween two4 vertically adjacent rows vof panels and supporting the upper row of panelsv thereupon, strips of cushioning material carried by said fixed member and engaging the rear faces of the panels in the adjacent rows, a longitudinally extending face member carried by said thereon to engage the front faces of the panels in said adjacent rows, said fixed member having forwardly projecting longitudinally extending shoulders and said wing members having attaching portions disposed behind said face member and provided with toes engaging the shoulders -on said'xed member upon rocking of the said wing members on the said face member.

5. 'The combination with a supporting wall and facing panels therefor arranged in a plurality of rows, of longitudinally extending horizontal metal purlins for attaching said panels to said wall, each comprising a fixed member secured to said wall and extending longitudinally between two lvertically adjacent rows of panels and supporting the upper row of panels thereupon, means carried by said fixed member and engaging the rear faces of the panels in the'adjacent rows, fastening elements passing loosely through openings in said xed member, a longitudinally extending face member carried by said ,fastening elements and disposed forwardly of said panels,

' wing' members rockably carried by said face member and engaging the front faces of the panels in said adjacent rows, spring members 4 carried by said fasteningy elements rearwardly of said fixed member acting to normally draw said face member inwardly, and cooperative means on the wing members and fixed member for keeping them yassembled and for maintaining said wing members in yieldable engagement with the said panels.

G. The combination with a supporting wall and facing panels therefor arranged ina plurality of rows, of longitudinally extending horizontal metal purlins for attaching said panels to said wall, each comprising a fixed member secured to said wall and extending longitudinally between two vertically adjacent rows of panels and supporting the upper row of panels thereupon, a forwardly directed T-member carried by said fixed member and comprising a horizontal stem integral with the said xedmember intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof and provided at its outer end with a substantially verticalA face member, said fixed ,member being also provided with forwardly directed longitudinally extending shoulders cooperating with the stem of said T-member to form longitudinally extending grooves, wing members detachably associated with said vertical face member kand provided .at their inner ends with rearwardly offset attaching portions resulting in'shoulders engaging the respective longitudinal edges of said face member and upon which said wing members fulcrum, the outer ends of said wing members engaging the facing panels while the rearwardly offset attaching portionsthereof are received behind said vertical face member and provided with laterally directed toes received within said longitudinal grooves, and means carried by said fixed member and positioned rearwardly of said facing panels to yieldably hold said panels outwardly against said wing members and rock said wing members upon said `face member to'maintain the toes thereof within the longitudinal grooves in saidfixed member.

7. The combination with a supporting wall and facing panels therefor arranged in a plurality of rows, of longitudinally extending horizontal metal purlins for attaching said panels to said wall, `each comprising a fixed member secured tovsaid wall and extending longitudinally between two vertically adjacent rows of panels and supporting the upper row of panels thereupon, a plurality of bolts passingv loosely through openings in said fixed member and carrying nuts at their inner ends, a face member carried at the forward ends of said bolts, the said fixed member being provided with forwardly projecting longitudinally extending shoulders cooperating with said fixed member to form a channel, wing members detachably associated with said face member and provided at their inner ends with rearwardly offset attaching portions resulting in shoulders engaging the respective longitudinal edges of said face member and upon which said wing members fulcrum, the outer ends of said wing members engaging the facing panels while the rearwardly offset attaching portions thereof are received behind said vertical face member and provided with laterally directed toes which are received within said channel and engage the respective shoulders on said fixed member, oppositely directed flanges carried by said fixed member and engaging the rear surfaces of said panels, and spring members carried by said bolts between the nuts thereon and said fixed member and lacting to normally draw said face member inwardly to hold the outer ends of the wing members in yieldable engagement with the front surfaces of said facing panels.

CLYDE D. LOWRY. 

